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Gene Austin (June 24, 1900–January 24, 1972) was an American singer
and songwriter who is considered to have been the first "crooner".
Austin was born as Lemeul Eugene Lucas in Gainesville, Texas (north of
Dallas), to Nova Lucas (died 1943) and the former Serena Belle Harrell
(died 1956). He took the name "Gene Austin" from his stepfather, Jim
Austin, a blacksmith. Austin grew up in Minden, the seat of Webster Parish
in northwestern Louisiana, located east of Shreveport. There he learned to
play piano and guitar. He ran away from home at fifteen and attended a
vaudeville act in Houston, where the audience was allowed to come to the
stage and sing. On a dare from his friends, Austin took the stage and sang
for the first time since singing as a Southern Baptist choir boy. The
audience response was overwhelming, and the vaudeville company immediately
offered him a billed spot on their ticket.
Austin joined the U.S. Army at the
